Out of my papers, I think my personal analysis is my best. This paper involved talking about myself, which was easier than I thought. The words flowed for me and before I knew it I had 5 pages. With research papers or book analysis, it's hard to show your voice. With the personal analysis paper, the voice came naturally which really made the paper stand out from the rest. And I think because I enjoyed writing it more than the others, I spent more time on the analysis making it that much better. It's much easier analyzing what I thought at a certain time, than analyzing what I think somewhat thought at that point in time (if that made any sense.) I also felt there was less errors in the paper as a whole because I wasn't citing, or quoting as much. This luxury probably contributed to more focus on the analysis than worrying about those little things.
My weakest paper is definitely my research paper. I struggle between informing and arguing. As of now, my paper has no focus whatsoever or purpose for that matter. When using texts from several different authors, giving background information, citing, its difficult for me to really figure out my paper. If I were to turn it in right now, I'm pretty sure someone would stop reading after the first couple pages. What I need to with this paper in the next couple weeks is pin point a purpose and go with it.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Chris is alive!
Chris attempted to leave the Alaskan wild in early July of 1992. He realized in order to leave he had to cross the Teklanika river. Unfortunately, the water levels were still too high. At this point, Chris was very lean and not killing as much game as he needed. He was reading passages from Doctor Zhivago and soon writes in the book, "HAPPINESS ONLY REAL SHARED" (189). Chris' circumstances have changed. He is no longer in the wild by choice, but by force. Therefore, he begins to look at his lifestyle in a new perspective. Although he can experience so much beauty and untouched nature, he has no one to talk about it with or share it with. His loneliness becomes apparent to him.
Closer to his death he writes this message to any passer-bys in another book, it reads: S.O.S. I NEED YOUR HELP.... I AM OUT COLLECTING BERRIES CLOSE BY AND SHALL RETURN THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. And he signed the note, "CHRIS MCCANDLESS, AUGUST?" (198). By getting rid of his alias Alexander Supertramp is another clue he has realized the life he escaped from is the life he most desperately wanted back: human contact.
If Chris was able to get out of the wild, I believe he would have contacted his sister and arranged to see her. Eventually he would see his parents but only briefly. Even after his experience I don't think he would embrace his mother and father. Although he would have these realizations, he would continue to live a similar lifestyle but not as primitive. Maybe get a house in the wild of Montana, still traveling, and visiting civilizations every once in a while.
Closer to his death he writes this message to any passer-bys in another book, it reads: S.O.S. I NEED YOUR HELP.... I AM OUT COLLECTING BERRIES CLOSE BY AND SHALL RETURN THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. And he signed the note, "CHRIS MCCANDLESS, AUGUST?" (198). By getting rid of his alias Alexander Supertramp is another clue he has realized the life he escaped from is the life he most desperately wanted back: human contact.
If Chris was able to get out of the wild, I believe he would have contacted his sister and arranged to see her. Eventually he would see his parents but only briefly. Even after his experience I don't think he would embrace his mother and father. Although he would have these realizations, he would continue to live a similar lifestyle but not as primitive. Maybe get a house in the wild of Montana, still traveling, and visiting civilizations every once in a while.
Friday, April 2, 2010
No Mapquest for Chris.
Throughout Chris McCandless' journey, he made it his goal to pursue all obstacles as primitively as possible. Anytime he was forced to hitchhike or earn some money, those kind of actions took him two steps back in his eyes. He mentions to Wayne in a letter, "I wish I hadn't met you though. Tramping is too easy with all this money. My days were more exciting when I was penniless and had to forage around for my next meal" (33).
Weeks after this letter was written, Chris continues his journey to the Mexican Gulf. He finds himself confused when the rivers go off in all different directions. He begins to get anxious and finally runs into some people that could help. They give him a map and his hopes are lifted. The map is supposed to lead him to the ocean, but he finds himself at a dead end in the middle of the desert. He is crushed (34).
Maybe it was this incident that Chris lost all faith in maps. That it was this kind of modernization that he despised. He could not trust society, government, and he could not trust the maps. He felt it was more efficient to rely on his own instincts, which he did from then on. Yes, it was unfortunate that Chris did not find the equipment that could have potentially saved his life. But bringing a topographic map would have destroyed the purpose of his whole journey. His purpose was to challenge himself and live without society's help. Using that map would have been a slap in the face to everything he believed in. So again, I don't think Chris was ignorant, simply reacting the best he could with the little tools he had.
I believe pointing out Chris' flaws are essential for Krakauer's arguments. He doesn't "sugarcoat" anything. He realizes Chris made some mistakes, just as Chris realized his mistakes throughout his journey. I believe his main purpose by pointing them out is to show he's aware that with a few more tools, Chris' journey could be a lot easier. But Chris also was aware of this, but he CHOSE not to use them. Krakauer wants to prove to these naysayers that the tools were irrelevant. Chris' journey is about the lifestyle he chose to tackle and to discover what he wanted out of it.
Weeks after this letter was written, Chris continues his journey to the Mexican Gulf. He finds himself confused when the rivers go off in all different directions. He begins to get anxious and finally runs into some people that could help. They give him a map and his hopes are lifted. The map is supposed to lead him to the ocean, but he finds himself at a dead end in the middle of the desert. He is crushed (34).
Maybe it was this incident that Chris lost all faith in maps. That it was this kind of modernization that he despised. He could not trust society, government, and he could not trust the maps. He felt it was more efficient to rely on his own instincts, which he did from then on. Yes, it was unfortunate that Chris did not find the equipment that could have potentially saved his life. But bringing a topographic map would have destroyed the purpose of his whole journey. His purpose was to challenge himself and live without society's help. Using that map would have been a slap in the face to everything he believed in. So again, I don't think Chris was ignorant, simply reacting the best he could with the little tools he had.
I believe pointing out Chris' flaws are essential for Krakauer's arguments. He doesn't "sugarcoat" anything. He realizes Chris made some mistakes, just as Chris realized his mistakes throughout his journey. I believe his main purpose by pointing them out is to show he's aware that with a few more tools, Chris' journey could be a lot easier. But Chris also was aware of this, but he CHOSE not to use them. Krakauer wants to prove to these naysayers that the tools were irrelevant. Chris' journey is about the lifestyle he chose to tackle and to discover what he wanted out of it.
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